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A review by nclcaitlin
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
3.5
Leo is a walking disaster, just trying to keep it together to pass his final year at the Fount, a school for sorcerers.
Shouldn’t be too hard right? Only thing is, his rival, the perfect Grimm, the best caster, is partnered with him. Then, they unknowingly fall victim to a curse which compels Leo to do whatever Grimm says. If authority finds out, they’re both screwed.
To break the curse, they must brave the strange and sprawling Wilderlands beyond the borders, where magic flourished unhindered, producing all sorts of odd creatures and plant life. Picture giants, flowers which can kill you, dogs with mouths for eyes.
“You're usually kept apart because anything else is more trouble than it's worth for the rest of us, but that's not the same thing as avoiding each other. Those restrictions were put in place because you both seem incapable of doing just that.”
Leo is a scriver, someone who writes spells, whereas Grimm is a caster. However, Leo refuses to write anything more powerful than small magic or charms as any time he attempted to write Grandmagic, it twisted to something wrong.
I liked how this was used to explore trauma and uncertainty and fear.
This was grumpy and sunshine troupe, non-stop talking, annoying each other as if it’s a sport. This is also sloooow burn.
Also, prepare yourself for an infuriating main character in Leo. Someone who seems to cause chaos wherever he goes (accidentally but normally purposefully).
Those bones had always been there, but their function had been silent, invisible. Then suddenly, with each painful breath, I was aware of them - their placement and their flaw. Perhaps it was dramatic to compare love to an injury, but that's how this felt. Like something that needed to be mended.
This reminded me of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, but I enjoyed this a lot more!
This was a fun break between longer, more intricate reads! I literally finished it in a day!
Recommended cozy high three stars! 🌟
Thank you to Little Brown Book Group for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Shouldn’t be too hard right? Only thing is, his rival, the perfect Grimm, the best caster, is partnered with him. Then, they unknowingly fall victim to a curse which compels Leo to do whatever Grimm says. If authority finds out, they’re both screwed.
To break the curse, they must brave the strange and sprawling Wilderlands beyond the borders, where magic flourished unhindered, producing all sorts of odd creatures and plant life. Picture giants, flowers which can kill you, dogs with mouths for eyes.
“You're usually kept apart because anything else is more trouble than it's worth for the rest of us, but that's not the same thing as avoiding each other. Those restrictions were put in place because you both seem incapable of doing just that.”
Leo is a scriver, someone who writes spells, whereas Grimm is a caster. However, Leo refuses to write anything more powerful than small magic or charms as any time he attempted to write Grandmagic, it twisted to something wrong.
I liked how this was used to explore trauma and uncertainty and fear.
This was grumpy and sunshine troupe, non-stop talking, annoying each other as if it’s a sport. This is also sloooow burn.
Also, prepare yourself for an infuriating main character in Leo. Someone who seems to cause chaos wherever he goes (accidentally but normally purposefully).
Those bones had always been there, but their function had been silent, invisible. Then suddenly, with each painful breath, I was aware of them - their placement and their flaw. Perhaps it was dramatic to compare love to an injury, but that's how this felt. Like something that needed to be mended.
This reminded me of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, but I enjoyed this a lot more!
This was a fun break between longer, more intricate reads! I literally finished it in a day!
Recommended cozy high three stars! 🌟
Thank you to Little Brown Book Group for providing an arc in exchange for a review!